Libby Indicted as Rove is Spared

Described by Dick Cheney as “one of the most capable and talented individuals I have ever known”, Scooter Libby was indicted today for lying to the grand jury, federal agents and for obstructing justice. Mr. Libby, the chief of Vice-President Cheney’s staff, immediately resigned. Interestingly, Karl Rove remains unindicted.

In an earlier post we posited that Rove might by on the ropes. Knowledgeable experts think that he is out of the woods, but the investigation of Plamogate remains open. I just wonder where it will lead.

The disclosure of Plame’s identity and status with the CIA was planned, revengeful and not the act of an isolated vigilante. I just wonder if the legal story will ever lead us to the truth about why we are at war in Iraq and how we got there. The indictment of Libby is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Rove on the ropes?

What do you think about the reports that Karl Rove is likely to be indicted in Plamogate? How can it be that the WHIG organization could have allowed inside sources to roll? The special prosectutor has apparently left no stone unturned and there will be some heavy falls. For those of you old enough to remember Watergate, the Plamogate conspiracy and coverup seems comparable to that earlier administration’s arrogance of power.

Mohammed Ali knew how to fight better that any other fighter in my lifetime. He was at his best when at the ropes and seemingly in trouble. We will find out how good Rove is on the ropes in the political ring. Who are you betting on?

Evolving Juror Attitudes

Over the last 10 years I have noticed a different juror in many cases. These are citizens that identify more with the Defendant in a civil lawsuit than the Plaintiff, the person who has been forced to sue to receive a fair settlement. The reason for this, in my opinion, is the more recent rank commercialism of our profession that has tainted the average person’s view of what the civil trial lawyer’s role is in society.

The billboards with grinning lawyers and obnoxious yellow pages ads reek with a message of greed; not the message of hope or the rights of the powerless in our society to be able to retain a lawyer to fight, no matter what the odds.

Indeed, the insurance companies have gained much ground in the battle for the minds of jurors. Their propanda and war chest of millions has bought so much media and public attention that the individual with an injury is now perceived as the bad guy. Trial lawyers need to do a better job of getting the message of service, hope and justice out to the people- for this is why we do what we do.

A yellow page ad, a tv ad or a billboard does not a good lawyer make, just like advertising does not necessarily make a good sandwich. Find the beef.

Joe Crumley Had a Great Ad

Anybody see the last issue of Law & Politics? My friend, Joe Crumley ran an ad that was “tongue in cheek”; self-deprecating about his failure to place an ad touting himself in the Super Lawyers issue.

This trick was pretty good – it was funny, timely, set himself apart from the herd, and if I could, I would give him the Super Ad Award for the last month.

Keep it up, Joe.

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